Marci Schramm, Executive Director
400 N. Peters, Suite 205
New Orleans, LA 70130
www.fqfi.org
Contact:
Rebecca Sell, Marketing Manager
Phone: (504)522-5730/Cell: (504)343-5559
Email: rebecca@fqfi.org
August 5, 2014 - French Quarter Festivals, Incorporated (FQFI) closed the 14th annual Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron on Sunday, August 3rd with a trumpet tribute dedicated to Louis Armstrong and longtime festival friend and musician, Lionel Ferbos. As the tribute, led by Kermit Ruffins, played a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday, Louis", festival-goers were treated to birthday cupcakes. Located at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint in the French Quarter, the festival is free and open to the public.
2014 breaks records: Last year Satchmo SummerFest made history by welcoming its first ever title sponsor, Chevron, expanding the Festival to three full days, and nearly doubling attendance numbers from 2012. This year the event continued to attract record crowds. 2014 figures indicate that over 57,000 gathered to pay tribute to Armstrong and immerse themselves in the culture, food, music, and everything that New Orleans has to offer. Great weather and an incredibly strong lineup contributed to the success; opening day performances by John Boutte, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Wycliffe Gordon drew crowds that continued to grow throughout the weekend.
Satchmo SummerFest featured two stages of music which included genres such as traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, and brass bands. The event also included many uniquely New Orleans events such as the opening day second line with the Roots of Music and Sunday's Jazz Mass at historic St. Augustine Church in Treme. Each day artists paid tribute to Lionel Ferbos, who passed away on July 19th.
With the close of another successful Festival it is clear that Satchmo's influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. Satchmo SummerFest is a cherished event for locals and tourists, with strong attendance from international visitors who came from Japan, Canada, England and other parts Europe. Hotel occupancy was at 98 percent on Saturday, August 2nd. This has a very positive impact on summer tourism in New Orleans, enhanced by summer marketing campaigns launched by the Louisiana Office of Tourism and the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. organizers have already started planning the 15th annual celebration, which will take place July 30-Aug 2.
Happy Birthday Satchmo!
Satchmo SummerFest is scheduled annually to coincide with Armstrong's actual birthday on August 4th. Armstrong often stated in public interviews that he was born on July 4, 1900 (Independence Day in the USA), a date that has been noted in many biographies. Armstrong died in 1971. It wasn't until the mid-1980s that his true birth date of August 4, 1901 was discovered.
About Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was born in a poor section of New Orleans known as "the Battlefield" or 'Back o' Town'. Throughout his career, he entertained millions - from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona, New York. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. The man known around the world as 'Satchmo' was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz - a uniquely American art form. Armstrong was a charismatic, innovative performer whose improvised soloing was the main influence for a fundamental change in jazz. One of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, he was first known as a cornet player, then as a trumpet player, and toward the end of his career he was best known as a vocalist and influential jazz singers. The nickname 'Satchmo' is short for 'Satchelmouth'. In 1932, Melody Maker magazine editor Percy Brooks greeted Armstrong in London with "Hello, Satchmo!" and the nickname stuck.
Sponsors and Community Partners for the 14th annual Satchmo SummerFest include: Abita Brewing Company, Absolut, Avion, Chevron, Crystal Clear Imaging, Downbeat Magazine, Event Rental, Ford, French Market Corporation, Harrah's New Orleans, Harrelson Trumpets, Hotel Monteleone, In the NOLA, ITS Fire Alarm, Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Joseph K. & Inez Eichenbaum Foundation (Stephen Maitland-Lewis & Joni Berry), Laurel Communications, Lionel Hampton Foundation, Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Louisiana Cookin', Mardi Gras World, Mayor's Office, City of New Orleans, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, NOLA Defender, NOLA Jitterbugs, OffBeat, Pelican Ice, Pepsi, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Rentech Solutions, Rolland Safe and Lock, Rouses, The Louisiana State Museum, Tipitina's Foundation, TravelHost Magazine, Tulane Medical Center, Vinyl District, Where Magazine, Where Y'at Magazine, WWL-TV, WWNO 89.9 FM, WWOZ, Zapp's Potato Chips, Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club
About French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
Satchmo SummerFest is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (www.fqfi.org), the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also produces French Quarter Festival in April and Christmas New Orleans Style! in December. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. promotes the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well-being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans.
For more information on all FQFI festivals and events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org.